BOISE - An
animal rights advocate who says he rescued a dog and her five puppies in
Eastern Idaho has been arrested for felony grand theft in the Treasure
Valley.

Barbie the dog is cared for at Northwest Animal
Companions

Troy Jackson, Northwest Animal Companions executive director,
said Boise Police showed up at his Boise home at about 1 a.m. on Wednesday
for an arrest warrant out of Jefferson County.

Jackson, who had a bond set at $25,000, was bonded out Wednesday morning.

Jackson heard of a possible animal neglect case and traveled to Eastern
Idaho to help. A dog and her five puppies were allegedly left out in the
cold for several days while the mom dog had two broken legs after apparently
being hit by a car.

Troy Jackson

But the Sheriff's office in Jefferson County issued the arrest warrant
after Jackson took the dogs. Jackson says he worked hard to make sure all
the dogs received medical treatment and believed the owner of the animals
was in support of his efforts. The owner, Jackson says, helped load the
animals into Jackson's vehicle.

And that's why, Jackson says, he's baffled by his arrest.

"The one person who ends up in jail is the one person who is trying to
help an animal who is laying in the snow dying," he said Wednesday.

Jackson says he'll return the puppies as soon as the vet signs a clear
bill of health.

"Take the politics and the emotion out of it," he told 2News last week.
"And do what's right."

The Jefferson County Sheriff's office said the sheriff would not be
commenting on the arrest Wednesday, however, a press release is expected to
be issued Thursday.

Reporters at sister station KIDK in Idaho Falls contacted the owner of
the dogs and were told reporters would be arrested if they step foot onto
his property.